image: Swapnil Salvi, a research engineer in SwRI’s Automotive Propulsion Systems Department, works on a battery immersion cooling test rig. SwRI will use the technology to support the Electrified Vehicle and Energy Storage Evaluation-II (EVESE-II) consortium.
Credit: Southwest Research Institute
SAN ANTONIO — August 12, 2024 – Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is launching the next phase of an electric vehicle (EV) battery consortium dedicated to understanding performance of energy storage systems. The Electrified Vehicle and Energy Storage Evaluation-II (EVESE-II) consortium builds on more than a decade of SwRI-led, precompetitive research with companies across the mobility sector.
“We are proud to serve the EV industry by bringing together manufacturers, suppliers and battery designers and developers with materials scientists to address a variety of challenges,” said Dr. Andre Swarts, an SwRI staff engineer in SwRI’s Automotive Propulsion Systems Department.
The consortium will host a kickoff meeting on August 15 where potential members can learn more about EVESE research and SwRI’s electrified powertrain activities. Visit https://evese.swri.org to register for free virtual or in-person attendance at SwRI in San Antonio.
EVESE-II will continue battery cell research established during the first phase of EVESE while expanding its focus on module and pack research. “Cell research will remain at the heart of the program with a focus on test repeatability, cell aging and fast charging research as well as exploring emerging cell chemistries with increased energy capacities,” Swarts said.
Performance and abuse testing at various scales will provide critical data and insights to improve thermal management and safety performance by the application of different technologies. Immersion cooling is the technology that entails submerging battery cells or packs into a dielectric fluid that dissipates heat more effectively than air-cooling.
“The emphasis on immersion cooling came out of past EVESE work, which underscored its ability to enhance thermal management and mitigate thermal runaway,” said Dr. Swapnil Salvi, an SwRI research engineer in SwRI’s Automotive Propulsion Systems Department. “SwRI has developed a substantial portfolio of test capabilities over the past few years to support these research activities.” For more information, visit Battery Immersion Cooling Testing & Research. In addition, EVESE-II will explore new frontiers in charging technology, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems and advanced in-situ battery health diagnostics and improved understanding, all supported by advanced modeling and simulation.
Consortium members will select from proposed topics or suggest new ones with the final work scope determined by mutual agreement. Members are entitled to all consortium data, with confidentiality restrictions in place to protect sensitive information. Member benefits and deliverables include monthly and final reports and regular remote and in-person meetings with updates on regulatory, market and technology trends. Other benefits include access to SwRI internal research data, test rigs and methodologies as well as royalty-free licenses to patents that result from consortium activities.
SwRI is home to several consortia dedicated to advancing a variety of powertrain technologies spanning electric, internal combustion and fuel cell technologies.
For more information, visit https://www.swri.org/industry/battery-testing-research/electrified-vehicle-energy-storage-evaluation-ii-evese-ii.